Anything involving junior Texas Senator Ted Cruz is likely to invoke some level of toxic response from Senator John McCain of Arizona and his secondary outlet of public communication, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

That Senator McCain harbors a grudge against “the Bushies” for the South Carolina primary defeat that ended his presidential run in 2000 is the worst kept secret in Washington. Having “his” candidate lose in his home state was also a blow to Graham. Known for his long memory, some Senate staffers joke the “R” behind McCain’s name is for “revenge.” Other quip Lindsey Graham is “the senator from McCain.”

You’d think they’d be over it, but never has their ax grinding against former George W. Bush allies been more obvious and counter-productive than over the last few months.

Ted Cruz was a key Bush campaign staffer in 2000. Primarily a legal advisor, he also provided domestic policy advice and served as a contact for movement conservatives. A brilliant legal mind, Cruz was a critical asset to Bush’s Florida recount team. Ted was well-liked and respected among campaign staff, and like Karl Rove, known to perform congressional district voter math in his head.

Including, no doubt, for the 2000 South Carolina presidential primary.

The phrase “if you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog” attributed to President Harry S. Truman remains true, but the Senate has spawned genuine friendships. Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar and Vermont’s liberal Democrat Patrick Leahy enjoy a long friendship despite ideological differences. The late Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) were vastly different in temperament and voting but each considered the other a brother.

The friendship between John McCain and Lindsey Graham started during the1999 Clinton impeachment hearings when Graham served on the House Judiciary Committee and was liaison to the Senate. They hit it off immediately, and developed a deep, personal friendship.

That they support each other through re-election campaigns, Senate policy battles, and any private challenges is laudable. That McCain seems to use Graham as a battering ram against people he does not like is not.

In 2001, former presidential candidate McCain’s refusal to fully support President Bush’s tax reform package led to only temporary tax cuts, which in turn contributed to the fiscal cliff. This put McCain at loggerheads with American taxpayers’ most powerful advocate, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, author of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Norquist also supported Bush in 2000, and worked closely with the Bush White House to support its tax cut agenda.

When fears arose during recent fiscal cliff negotiations that Senate Republicans might raise taxes, Senate insiders muttered McCain was privately giddy over the possibility of GOP pledge-breakers, but it was Graham thrown in front to lead Republicans over the pledge-violation cliff.

That weekend, McCain and Graham hit the Sunday talk show circuit expressing justifiable concern about Hagel’s qualifications for the job. But when Senator Cruz later asked Hagel equally hard-hitting questions in an Armed Services Committee meeting, McCain and Graham publicly raked him over the coals for being too tough on Hagel.

This left Beltway insiders and regular folk scratching their heads. Unless, of course, they remembered Cruz’s Bush association.

An energetic, principled Republican triumvirate has emerged quickly in the newest Senate as Rand Paul (R-KY), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Cruz consolidate conservative energy without the intrigue, backstabbing, and looting of the Imperial treasury that so hampered Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey.

Spawned by John Brennan’s role as Obama counterterrorism chief in crafting policy on drones over the homeland, this week Senator Paul — with the assistance of Cruz and Rubio — filibustered Brennan’s nomination to head the CIA. America was cheering from its living room. Facebook and Twitter were on fire. The three young senators delivered a thirteen-hour primer on Constitutional governance with grace, humor, and brilliance that rekindled hope in our future and interest in foundational American rights.

So naturally, Lindsey Graham appeared on the Senate floor the next morning with a ridiculous sign comparing Americans killed in the U.S. by al-Qaeda (2,958) vs. drones (0.) He and Senator McCain spent the day following cameras to explain the inspirational filibuster was “ill-informed” while telegraphing civil liberties are less important than delivering a comeuppance to usurpers Paul, Rubio — and Cruz.

The GOP symbol is an elephant, and elephants never forget. But when a bull’s memories cause harm to fellow elephants, it’s time to move on and let the next generation assume leadership of the herd.

Kerri Toloczko is a Senior Advisor to Women United PAC, an
organization of women leaders standing together for liberty and America and
not affiliated with any political party organization.

So McCrank & "Grahamnesty" seem only too pleased to carry on Barry O's work dividing the GOP for him--without charge--in the name of wounded pride & stale anger. Down with both of them, "And may posterity forget that [they] were our countrymen."

"The three young senators delivered a thirteen-hour primer on Constitutional governance with grace, humor, and brilliance that rekindled hope in our future and interest in foundational American rights."

While three young 'grandstanding' senators brought the fight for our freedom against possible tyranny to the feet of the prez the two feckless RINO's McCain and Graham were dining with the prez - trolling for face time with any camera that would video them - and possibly trying to cut a deal like in the days past. McCain is a vindictive old SOB and should retire and shut up. Once that happens Graham will go back to a corner in his office and suck his thumb. Or whatever it is he likes to suck.

I dunno, it's not just them, many writers on the right, including some on this site (in the previous article no less) are attacking Paul.

I think part of the problem is that many on the right do want a police state, with no rights, if they can think it can save them from "terrorism"

To quote Heinlein

"“Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire"

Is it just me or is Lindsey Graham advertising all over PJMedia. I cant get away from his ugly mug smiling at me with a Support Lindsey donate button underneath him. Is there a game where you can punch Lindsey Graham in the face repeatedly?

I find it interesting that McCain, who says he takes his military heritage and experience seriously and that honor is an important part of that, acts in such a petty, dishonorable fashion so consistently.

Mike Mahonery,I liked your comment about Ds and Rs being like the offense and the defense, because they both play for the Ruling Class team. However, I think they are more like the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals: they pretend to keep it close until the vote nears, and then Obama dribbles through the entire RINO defense to scoren untouched!

McCain's baggage that seriously clouds his judgement starts with the Keating-Five - which begat McCain-Feingold.Then, to have bucked the tax-cuts, forcing them to be temporary, created a host of down-stream problems for his party, and the country.He needed to have retired in 2010, and hopefully the people of SC will show the door to his buddy, and John will get the hint.

McCain has more than one "reason" to resent Cruz. Cruz has political courage, which McCain does not. Also, Cruz makes a huge contrast with McCain: the former is blithely indifferent to what the media say about him, while the latter would sell his wife, his soul, and his Senate seat for six complimentary column-inches about him in the New York Times.

Roger and McCarthy ... sorry guys; you just screwed the pooch! Heh! Recognize that truth can come from many and varied places inconsistent with even "conservative" world views. Now's not the time to submit to "divide and conquer" tactics. So .... ... "Get with the future or go home!"

I have long said that the only difference between Democrats and Republicans was which group of self-appointed elitists wanted to be in charge. However, Republicans were not as objectionable as Democrats, so I (reluctantly, in most cases) gave them my vote; in contrast, I will never, rpt never, vote for a Democrat.

Unfortunately, the performance of "leading" Republicans over the last several months has caused me to re-evaluate. Now, I seriously doubt that I will ever again vote for a Republican, either.

Some may say that this renders my vote irrelevant, since third-party candidates cannot be elected. So be it. The two major parties are irrevocably out-of-touch with the American people, and any vote for them simply supports the status quo. It is going to take a major shake-up - economic collapse, mass civil disobedience or civil war - to "clear the deck" and allow this country to be returned to Constitutional control.

Voting libertarian is a reasonable alternative, the only unreasonable alternative being not voting at all. But a better one might be to support the Paul, Cruz, Rubeo reform trio for the repub nomination and election.

2014, he was already challenged in the 2008 primary primarily due to his sneaky backstabbing shennanigans right before July 4th 2006 with regards to "Comprehensive Immigration Reform." But he has doubled down when he came back and sneered in contempt at his constituency during the heat of Obamacare. He will be challenged again, and this time with a stronger candidate, like Nikki Haley or Mark Sanford. The previous attempt got near 30% of the vote.

I will shed no tears if Graham gets primaried out, although any challenger should be carefully vetted and have some experience, so they dont fall apart in the general. I agree either nikki haley or mark sanford would be very good.

Term limits is the cure. McCain wants to be loved by people who could care less about him until he becomes a useful idiot. Graham is Mortimer Snerd toMcCain's Edgar Bergen, some akin to Kerry and Kennedy.